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NFL from the Sidelines
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O-R Sports reporter Dale Lolley gets you the insider scoop on the NFL.
Thoughts on an explosive effort in New Orleans
August 27, 2016
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) works against the New Orleans Saints during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 26, 2016, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
The Steelers offense hit the ground running against the Saints Friday night in the team’s 27-14 win in New Orleans.
Ben Roethlisberger was on point with most of his throws and the receiving corps, offensive line and running backs all looked ready to go.
Landry Jones also bounced back from his four-interception performance last week to go 19 of 22 for 206 yards and a touchdown.
But remember, this New Orleans defense allowed 42 touchdown passes last season. This was not a good defense, but you only play who you have to play.
Still, that was an NFL defense out there and the Steelers made it look like they were playing against air.
Sammie Coates looked as good as he has in this preseason, which was a plus. But the Steelers seem to have settled on a “starting” formation that includes Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton on the outside and Eli Rogers in the slot.
That doesn’t mean Coates won’t get on the field. But he’s going to have to keep making plays after slogging his way through the first two preseason games.
@ Le’Veon Bell fumbled, which he’s done just once in a regular season game in the previous three seasons. But other than that, he looked outstanding.
Once his three-game suspension is completed, Bell will be back to have a huge season.
@ Drew Rosenhous, the agent for Antonio Brown, was at the game to meet with general manager Kevin Colbert to talk about getting more money for the star wide receiver.
The Steelers freed up some cash this week by renegotiating the contracts of Marcus Gilbert and Mike Mitchell, turning base salary into signing bonus and clearing $5-7 million in cap space.
The team isn’t going to sign Brown to an extension, but it can move some of his 2017 salary into this season as it did a year ago. And to do that, it needed cap space.
@ It wasn’t all good news as Cameron Heyward (ankle), Gilbert (elbow), Shamarko Thomas (groin) all left the contest.
Heyward was in a walking boot, which is actually a good thing. It would have been worse had he been on crutches. The Steelers have just over two weeks before they play and will have plenty of time for Heyward to heal up.
@ Nose tackle Daniel McCullers just might have Wally Pipped in this one.
McCullers sat out with a sore knee and rookie Javon Hargrave was active, recording a sack, hustling to the ball and generally being disruptive.
@ Jarvis Jones looked good in his first action of this preseason. I know a lot of fans are always going to want more from the former first-round draft pick, but he’s probably never going to be a star.
What he is, however, is a solid starter. He should get more playing time this season and he knows he has to take advantage of that. Friday night, he looked like he deserved it.
He looked awfully fast getting around the end several times in this one and forcing bad throws. It also was interesting that the Steelers flip-flopped Jones and Arthur Moats at times, allowing Jones to rush from the strong side.
@ I don’t care who’s on the offensive line when Roethlisberger is getting rid of the ball like he did in this one. Many people are wondering how this offense will be better in 2016 without Martavis Bryant and Heath Miller and with Bell suspended for the first three games of the season.
But the Smurf receivers group of Brown, Wheaton and Rogers looks like an old run-and-shoot group that is lightning quick. And Todd Haley is creative enough to find ways to keep opponents guessing.
This offense will be fine until Bell returns. And remember this, the Steelers have averaged more than 30 points per game in Roethlisberger’s last 21 regular season starts.
If the Steelers play at the offensive pace they did Friday, opponents are in deep trouble.
@ Xavier Grimble had a nice showing in this game. He needed one.
I still think the Steelers need another blocker at the tight end position, but Grimble put his best claim on the No. 3 tight end spot.
He looks like a big wide receiver out there, kind of what the Steelers hoped they were getting with Lardarius Green.
That could still happen with Green. And if it does, this offense could be ridiculous.
@ This defense looks faster than any the Steelers have put on the field in some time.
Robert Golden makes them quicker at strong safety and this defensive line can get after it. At some point, we might even get to see another fast guy, Bud Dupree, out there running around
